Improved steam cotton-press



i UNITED STATES AUGUSTINE BALDWIN, OF`NEV YORK, N. Y.

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|IVIPROVEDSTEAIV] COTTON-PRESS.

Specification forming rartvoi Letters Patent No. 103.123, dated May 17,1870.

"same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and totheletters `of reference "marked thereon.

This invention is an improvement in cotton and other presses; and itconsists7 rst, in the arrangement of the levers or arms by means ofwhich the platen is operated 5 secondly, in

i connecting the movable) platen of the press to the piston of an engineby means o f the intermediate arms or leversyand, thirdly, in theconstruction and arrangementof the press as a whole.

In order that those skilledin the art to which my invention appertainsmay be able to make and use my improved press, I will proceed todescribe the same, referring to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, the same letters' denotingidentical partsin both figures.

Figure l is a side elevation, and Fig. 2. an end elevation, of myimproved press.

The frame-work of myimproved press consists o ffour strong columns,AAAA, preferably `of iron, which set below into a firm base,

B, constituting the foundation ofthe press. The

upper ends are similarly secured above. 'Io the upper plate is securedthe upper platen, C, adjusted by the set-screws c c, so as to be eX-actly parallel with the lowerplaten. On the standard slides the lower ormoving platen, D, which is held upon the standard by suit- 4 able looseclamps.

c e e e e2 e2 represent toggle-joints, by means 'of which the movableplaten is operated. The y, operation of these arms is as follows: Whenthe press is ready for action, the piston rests at the bottom of thecylinder, the arms e e e e e262 being in the positionshown in Fig. 1.AsV

the piston rises in itsmovement it will be observed that the arms c e e2e2, in moving upward, operate upon the platen in an almost direct line,giving it, consequently, a rapid initial motion. As the piston advances,however, the point of connection of the arms e e e2 will swing in thearcof `a circle, the center of fed to the press.

which is the point of the fixed pivoting of the arm e. It will resultthat the arms e e2 will approach more and more nearly to coincidencewith the same straight line, and the armewill be thrown more and morefrom a perpendicular position to a horizontal. action will giveconstantly-increasing power, with constantly-diminishing velocity ofascent of the platen until the arms ee2are in thesame straight line,when all forward motion must cease.

In the lower part of theframe-work, resting on the lower basis, is theengine E, with its piston vE working vertically, and connected directlyby proper ears to the lower connecting-arms of the toggle-lever system.The engine is of ordinary construction,with suitable inductive andexhaust pipes, packing, and valve. It is, however, provided with aspecial arrangement of valve and induction and exhaust pipes, sothat'when "the steam is admitted below the piston to cause its upwardstroke on the cotton or other material to be pressed some portion -ofthe steam admitted shall pass above the piston, be detained there,

and serve as a cushion to break theforce ofthe4 blow and relieve themachine from danger ot' jars resulting from concussion of its` parts.The valve g is connected by the bar lt to lever t', centrally pivoted tothe stand A, and further connected by rod K to the hand-lever Z,

whichis so arranged with the press as to be within reach of the operatorstanding on the platform where the cotton or other material is Theoperation will be readily understood from the drawings. The machinehaving been fed with the material to be pressed, the operator, bymovement of the hand-lever,J admits steam beneath the piston, forcing upthe lower platen, and a reverse motion returns the piston.

The engine is used with special economy and efficiency in connectionwith this. system of toggle-joints, sincethe toggles acting with immenseadvantage of leverage at the end of the stroke, the steam may be cutoffearly in the stroke, and a great saving be thus effected.

Some of the special advantages obtained by this peculiar constructionare compactness and simplicity. The engine-piston being directlyconnected to the movable platen by means of the toggle joints orarms,.there is no This progressive waste room, and the parts requiredare few and simple. No gearing or complicated system of levers isemployed, and consequently the amount of friction is very largelyreduced. If desired, the equivalent niotor power-the screw, withtraveling nut, as commonly used in presses of this classmay be employedinstead of the cylinder and piston for driving home the platen; but thelatter in the arrangement here shown is preferred.

Having thusfully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The arrangement of the arms e ee Ilo

